Carbon footprint of tobacco production in China through Life-cycle-assessment: Regional compositions, spatiotemporal changes and driving factors

Abstract

The global contribution of cigarette production to greenhouse gas emissions is substantial, with tobacco agricultural production being a major source. Based on statistical data, this research employs a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to comprehensively evaluate China’s flue-cured tobacco production carbon footprint (CF) from 2004 to 2020, detailing its components, spatiotemporal dynamics, and driving factors. The study reveals that the average CF per hectare for China’s tobacco production (CFr) amounted to 12576.46 kg CO2eq·ha−1. Regionally, the CFr was 10799.55 kg CO2eq·ha−1 in Northern China, 14517.00 kg CO2eq·ha−1 in Southeastern China, 11788.82 kg CO2eq·ha−1 in the lower Yellow/Huai River region, 13138.70 kg CO2eq·ha−1 in the mid-Yangtze River and 12415.56 kg CO2eq·ha−1 in Southwestern China. Over the study period, Southwest China’s CFr exhibited an upward trend with an annual growth rate of 121.81 kg CO2eq·ha−1. At the micro-level, coal use contributes more than 60 % of carbon emissions, followed by curing power consumption. On a macro scale, economic activities significantly elevated the CF, whereas factors like carbon emission intensity, production efficiencies, and structural shifts contributed to its reduction. This research indicates that employing clean energy in curing barns, reducing agricultural film usage, and enhancing fertilizer utilization rates represent effective strategies for achieving low-carbon tobacco production. The results of this study have certain reference value for the policy formulation of low-carbon tobacco production and sustainable agriculture in China.

Keywords

• Flue-cured tobacco production
• Carbon emission
• Carbon footprint
• Life cycle assessment
• Low-carbon agriculture